Fire control system



Filed June 25, 1940 '2 sheets-sheet 1 ELEV.SPOT 00 I 0 SPOT INV EN TOR.

HJVewew W7 4W ATTORNEY.

Jan. 18, 1944. w. H. NEWELL 2,339,508

FIRE CONTROL SYSTEM Filed June 25, 1940 2 Sheets-She et 2 L42 -l 57ELEVATION ELEVATION REGEWER CO H PAEaS mR'Ec'roR nefi TRAVERSE v TRANS.-

STABLE g vsa'ncm.

ELEVATION TRANS.

' INVENTOR. WHNewelL ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 18, 1944 2,339,508 FIRE CONTROL SYSTEM William H. Newell.Ford Instrument New York, N. Y., assignor to Company, Inc., Long IslandCity, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application June 25, 1940, SerialNo. 342,201

3' Claims. ficl. 33-49) This invention relates to a fire control systemand more particularlyto a fire control system for a gun mounted foruniversal movement including traverse, that is, about an axisperpendicular to the plane of elevation.

The principal object of the invention is-to provide a director and aprediction computer particularly adapted to control the fire ofuniversally mounted guns.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fire control system fora universally mounted gun that is mounted on a ship or a vehicle subjectto rocking movements.

A further object of the invention is to provide a universally mountedsight on a ship or vehicle subjected to rocking movements, adapted, withother associated mechanisms, to control the fire of guns similarlymounted.

A further obiect of the invention is to provide a fire control system inwhich the sight and part of the mechanism of the director are stabilizedwhereby the reactions between the stabilized parts and the parts notstabilized automatically apply corrections within the system as a whole.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from a considerationof the specification and drawings forming a part of this application andin which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a director and computer embodying theinvention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a gun controlled by the director of Fig.1, with associated mechanisms; and

Fig. 3 is a cross-section of a portion of the director on line 3-3 ofFig. 1, showing a threedimensional cam.

The standard type of gun mounts developed for land and ship firing atsurface'targets have been used at a disadvantage when firing at aerialtargets and especially when these targets are at high angles ofelevation. The difliculties arose from the fact that the guns weremounted for movement on only two axes, viz., train and elevation. As themovements of aerial targets are along three axes, correctionsforelevation had to be made for changes in train, which were complicatedin their computations especially with high rates of change in range andbearing usually involved in the firing at such targets. Also it waspractically impossible to follow a target at high elevation as thetraining rate becomes very high as the target passes near the zenith.

.To overcome these defects a third movement was provided as illustratedin the well known Scarfi ring, which was mounted on a base movable intrain and which carried a bail on which was mounted the gun. The gun wascapable of movement in elevation and train relative to the bail.

Another form of so-call ed universal gun mount was devised and wasdisclosed in Henderson Patent No. 1,693,712 in which a third or crosslevel ,movement was provided between the train and elevation movements.owever, the setting of the sights in this system was difiicult andcomplicated as the changes in the settings for traindisturbed thesetting for elevation and vice versa. It was also difilcult to provide aremote sight or director control for mounts of this type.

There have been remote sights that were universallymounted, such: asdescribed in Willard v patent No. 1,936,442, but'in that arrangement thetransmissions to the gun were in terms of .the conventional train andelevation, whereas the transmissions in the-present invention are interms of train, elevation and traverse. Traverse is defined as theangular position about an axis erpendicular to the plane of elevation,that is, the plane including the bore of the gun and r the axis of thegun elevation trunnions.

The present invention contemplates mounting the sight and part of thedirector on a frame stabilized for pitch and roll so that the train axisof the sight is containuously maintained vertical and the elevation axisis continuously maintained horizontal. As the mount of the gun mustnecessarily be secured to the deck of the ship, the train and elevationvalues generated by the director must be corrected for roll and pitch.This is accomplished by mounting on the deck below the central axis ofthe stabilized part of the director a dummy gun whose muzzle end ismoved in accordance with the generated train, elevation and stabilizingvalues and whose associated transmitters transmit the generated valuescorrected for pitch and roll. It is evident that the gimbal system ofconverting generated values to corrected values, as disclosed'herein,could be replaced by a converter of the computer type.

The upper part of the director contains the range finger, sights, trainand elevation. variable speed devices, and prediction devices operatedin part by. the rates of the variable speed devices and in part inaccordance with the range, converted to time of fiight. A ballisticcomputer is also provided in this section in which the range isconverted to time of flight, super-elevation and drift bythree-dimensional cams controlled by the predicted elevation of the lineof sight above the horizontal and the range. Conventional powerfollow-ups are provided for the outputs of train, elevation anddeflection.

The lower part of the director consists of a dummy gun bywhich'transmitters are driven for controlling the actual gun. The centerof the dummy gun system coincides with the center of the stabilizedgimbal system of the director. The muzzle end of the dummy gun islocated in space by fitting its upper end into a hole in a sector membercontrolled by the outputs of the computer or stabilized section. Thishole is positioned in space with reference to the pivoting point of thedummy gun in accordance with the direction of the line of sight modifiedfor predictions, spots, and ballistic corrections so that the line fromthe center'of the dummy gun, which is in the vertical axis of thestabilizing gimbal system, to the'hole in the sector member representsthe direction of the gun in space. As the dummy gun is mounted directlyon the ship on a base parallel with the reference plane of the guns, itis continuously positioned to transmit the proper values of train,

elevation and traverse to the real gun.

With reference to Fig. 1, the frame ofthe director is mounted ontrunnions 2, 2 to ring 3 which is supported on the trunnions i, 4 bystandards 5, 5 secured to the deck 53. The di rector frame l ismaintained in a horizontal plane'with its main axis vertical by rollfollow-up 'motor 7 secured to the deck 8 and pitch follow up motor 8secured to the ring 3 by bracket to. whose shafts are connected-tosegments 9 and ill secured to the ring 3 and frame l respectively byworms H and I2 respectively. Control of the motors I and 8 is hadthrough cables I3 and id from a suitable stable vertical. well known inthe art and indicated at it (see Fig. 2).

Within the frame 1 and coaxial therewith is mounted the director head itwhich is free to retate with reference to frame 3 about its verticalaxis. The head it is held in position by ball bearings I1. An apron it!extends downward from the director head it for protection of themechanisms within it from the weather and the blasts of the guns.

On the top of director head it is mounted bystandards 68o a conventionalcombined range finder and sight iii. The optical system of the sightterminates in eyepieces 2d and the optical system of the range finderterminates in the eyepieces 25.

Train values are generated by variable speed device 22 whose disk 23'isdriven by constant speed motor 24 through shaft 25. The output ofvariable speed device 22, represented by the rotation of shaft 26, iscontrolled by the position of control element 2? which is positioned bythe knob 28 through shaft 29, gears 39 and 3!, and shaft 32. Correctionsto the generated values are applied by knob 28 through shaft 29, gears39 and 33, shaft 34, and differential 35, one side of which is connectedto the output of the variable speed device 22. A disk 38 is secured toshaft 35 and cooperates with spring 31 secured to the director head 46by lug 38 to prevent the output of the variable speed device 22 frommoving gear 33 rather than moving shaft 39, which is the output ofdifferential 35. The retarding force between the disk 36 and the spring37 is such that it may be overcome by. a force applied to knob 28 but isnot overcome by the force necessary to move shaft 39.

In the position shown, gear 30 engages gears 3! able speed device 22.Gear 30 may be shifted upward and engage gear 33 only in which casecorrections would be applied only to the output of variable speed device22. If gear 30 is moved downward it engages gear 3! only, in which caseknob 28 applies corrections only to the position of the rate member ofvariable speed device 22.

The rotation of shaft 39, representing train, is combined with thecompass course of the ship supplied by compass 413 through cables 4! tofollow-up 412 to give relative bearings in train. This is accomplishedby combining the output of the compass course follow-up 42, representedby the rotation of shaft 43, with the rotation of shaft 39 indiiferential 44, the output of which, shaft 415, is connected to theinput of train follow-up Ma. The output of follow-up dfishaft 6?; is connected to gear 48, which meshes with an internal gear formed by teeth 49in frame l. In this manner the sights 28 are kept continuously on thetarget in train.

Elevation values are generated by variable speed device 51], driven bymotor 24, and controlled by knob 51?, shaft 52, gears 53 and 54, shaft55, control element 56, as previously described for variable speeddevice 22. Likewise corrections to the generated values of the variablespeed device 511 are applied through gear 51, shaft 58, and differential59, which is connected to the output of the variable speed device 50, byshaft 69. On shaft 58 is disk ti which cooperates with spring 52 securedto the frame I by lug 83 to prevent the output of the variable speeddevice 50 from moving gear 51. Corrections to the rate of generation orthe generated values may be applied simultaneously or individually byshifting the position of gear 53, as previously described for gear 38.The generated values of elevation, represented by the motion of shaft54, is applied to the range finder-sight 19 by worm 65 which meshes withgear 66 secured to the range findersight it.

The range is set up in the mechanism mechanically by knob 67, connectedto shaft 68, which is connected by a flexible shaft 68a to a mechanismin the range finder which converts the movement of shafts B8 and 58a,directly representing range, to the corresponding variable movementsrequired of the range finder optical system.

The advance elevation is the algebraic sum of the elevation of the sightand the elevation prediction factor. The elevation prediction factor isthe product of the rate of change of elevation multiplied by the time offlight. The time of flight is a function of the advance elevation andthe range. A closed or regenerative system is therefore provided toobtain the advance elevation as follows: The range, represented by therotation of shaft 58, andthe advance elevation represented by therotation of shaft 69, are fed into the three-dimensional cam mechanism'18 by shaft 68'. Cam mechanism 10 is shown in detail in Fig. 3., Thesurface of cam 72 is determined by calculations and experiments. Themovement of cam lever 73 about its axis is determined by the rotation ofshaft 68f and the particular part of the surface of cam 12 which camfollower 7i engages. The latter factor is determined by the movement ofcam lever 13 along the shaft 69. This is accomplished by mounting camlever 13 to rotate relative to lever 75, which is internally threaded at16 to engage cam lever 13 is translated along shaft 69 in proportion tothe advanced elevation and is rotated about its axis in'accordance withthe surface of cam 12 with which it is held in contact by spring 18 andits rotational movement is in proportion to the time of flight of theprojectile.

The time of flight, represented by the motion of shaft 8I, is multipliedby the rate of change of elevation, represented by the rotation of shaft55, by a conventional multiplying mechanism 82. the output of which,represented by the rotation of shaft 83, is the elevation predictionfactor.

This is combined with the elevation of the target;-

represented by the rotation of shaft 64, in differential 84 to obtainthe advanced elevation, represented by the rotation of shaft 69. Theconstruction and operation of a, conventional mul- Y is connected toplate I06 by gears I22, shaft I23,

standards I08 and I09. Journaled in the upper end of standard I08 isshaft H which supports pin III on which rotates together arm H3 andplate II2. On the end of arm H3 is secured dummy gun I I4, such that theaxis of the dummy gun II.4 intersects the axis of shaft H0. In the edgeof plate H2 are cut teeth H5 which mesh with a gear on shaft H6 which isjournaled in the upper end of standard I09. Elevation transmitter H1 isconnected to shaft H0 by gears H8. Traverse transmitter H9 is connectedto shaft H5 by gears I20. Train transmitter .I2'I

gear I24 and teeth I01.

The manner in which dummy gun I I4 receives its motion, and therebymovesthe elevation,

transmitter II1, traverse transmitter H9, and train transmitter I2! .isas follows: The upper end of the dummy gun II4 fits into a hole I25tiplying mechanism are described in Patent The super-elevationcorrection is a function of range and advanced elevation and isgenerated by a three-dimensional cam mechanism designated generally as85 which operates similarly to cam mechanism 10, previously described.

The output of this mechanism, represented by the rotation of shaft 86,is combined with the advance elevation, represented by the rotation ofshaft I59, by differential 8601.. the output of which, shaft 81,represents the elevation of the gun above the horizon.

Elevation spots are added by turning knob 88 connected to shaft 89,whose movement is com- -bined with that of shaft 81 by differential 90.

The output of difierential 90, shaft 9I, is connected to a conventionalfollow-up-92, the output of which is shaft 93.

The deflection correction is made up of two.

factors: 1) the rate of changeof train multiplied by the time of flight,and (2) a drift wh ch is proportional to the advance elevation andrange. The mechanism to generate the first factor (1) of this correctionconsists of the con ventional multiplier 94 whose inputs are shafts 32and 8|, previously described, and whose output is shaft 95. The factorof drift is generatedv by a three-dimensional cam mechanism, showngenerally at 96, and which is similar in all respects in constructionand operation with the three-dimensionalcam mechanism 10, previouslydescribed. The output of cam mechanism 96 is shaft 91, whose motion iscombined with that of shaft 95 in differential 98, the output of whichis shaft 99 whose motion represents the combined generated deflectioncorrection.

Spots in deflection are set up in the mechanism by knob I00 connected toshaft I00a whose movement is combined with that of shaft 99 indifferential IOI whose output, shaft I02, is connected to a conventionalfollow-up I03, whose output is shaft I03a, the rotation of whichrepresents on sector strip I20 which is adapted to slide in groovesformedof braces I21. Braces I21 are connected to bracket I28 which issecured at one end to hollow shaft or sleeve I29 which in turn issecured to plate I30. Plate I30 is connected to shaft I03aby teeth I3Iand gear I32.

Strip I26 is moved between the braces I21 by rack I33, secured to stripI20, and engaging gear I34 secured to shaft I35 which rotates withinsleeve I29. Shaft I35 is connected to shaft 93 and to shaft [03a throughthe conventional d'iferential I36.

The outer end of bracket I28 carries sleeve I31 in which rotates shaftI38 connected at its upper end by gear- I39 to a second internal gearformed by teeth 49a of frame I. its rotation to gear I40, which mesheswith teeth I05, through gears MI and telescoping shaft I42 includinguniversal joints I43. Shaft I42 passes through a journal in plate I06.In this manner it will be seen the axis of plate I00, at right angles tothe axis passing through the center of the standards I08 and I09, iskept substant ally parallel to the; longitudinal axis of bracket I28.

The gun I44 is mounted for universal movement by securing it to a plate.I45 rotatively secured to frame I40. Frame I46 is supported by shaftsI41 and I48 journaled in the upper ends of standards I49 and I50respectively, which are secured to the plate I5I. Plate I5I "isrotatively mounted on base I52 secured to the deck of the ship.

Motion of the gun in elevation is had by.

output of this follow-up is transmitted to plate I45 through gearsI59a,' shaft I48, gears IOI,

.shaft I62, and gear I63 which meshes with teeth I64 on the edge ofplate I45.

Motion of the gun in train is had by connecting train transmitter I2I totrain receiver and follow-up I05 by cable IIi5a. Theoutput of thisfollow-up is journaled in plate I5I and is connected to gear I66 whichmeshes with teeth of a gear rack I61 secured to the side of the baseI52.

It is obvious that various changes may be made by those skilled in theart in the details of the embodiment of the invention disclosed in theShaft I38 transmits drawings anddescribed above within the principle andscope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

I claim:

- 1. In a system for directing anti-aircraft guns, in combination withanangularly movable platform, a director franie mounted on the platformfor universal angular movement relative thereto, stabilizing means formaintaining an axis of the frame vertical, a director head on thedirector frame adapted for rotation about said vertical axis, adirecting device on the director head adapted for rotation about ahorizontal axis and for rotation with the director head about thevertical axis, a dummy gun mounted on the platform and movable in trainabout an axis perpendicular to the platform and in line with the saidvertical axis when the platform is horiz'ontal, and in elevation aboutan axis parallel with the platform and in traverse about an axisperpendicular to the elevation axis and to the plane of elevation, meansfor transmitting the' for universal angular movement relative thereto'assasos plane of elevation, each of said dummy gun axes aboutintersecting axes, stabilizing means for maintaining an axis of theframe vertical, a director head on the director frame adapted for to thevertical axis and for rotation in train with the director head about thevertical axis, a dummy gun mounted on the platform and movable in trainabout an axis P p ndicular to the platform and in elevation-about anaxis parallel 7 being arranged to intersect the frame mounting axes, asector mounted on the director head for angular displacement relativethereto about vertical and horizontal axes also intersecting the framemounting axes, adjustable variable speed power means adapted for movingsaid director head and said sector in train about their vertical axes,means for displacing the sector in train relative to the directingdevice in proportion to the adjustment of the variable, speedpowermeans, means to position the dummy gun in train by and inaccordance with the train of the director head and the displacementofthe sector about their vertical axes relative to the director frame.means to position the sector about its horizontal axis in accordancewith the elevation of the directing device relative to thekdirectorhead, and constraining means interconnecting the sector and the dummygun whereby to cause the dummy gun to move about its traverse andelevation axes.

' 3. In a system for directing anti-aircraft guns, in combination withan angular-iv movable platform, a director frame mounted on saidplatform and adapted for angular movement relative thereto, stabilizingmeans for maintaining an axis of the frame vertical, a directing devicemounted on said frame for train about said vertical axis and forelevation about an axis perpendicular to said vertical axis, a dummy gunmounted on the platform for movement relative thereto about three axesof rotation, one of said axes being perpendicular to the platform and inline with the said vertical axis when the platform is horizontal, meansfor transmitting the train of the directing device to \position thedummy gun about the axis perpendicular to the platform, and

constraining means for the dummy gun responzontal.

. WELIAM H. NEWELL.

